Kinabatangan Wetland Habitat Restoration Initiative KOPEL-MESCOT Lake Restoration Work |
Background & Introduction
The latest of the MESCOT Initiatives, this lake restoration work began in earnest
in September 2005 after more than 2 years of research and sourcing funding
support. This project is proudly funded by the Alexander Abraham Foundation
through the bridging work of LEAP (Land Empowerment Animals & People).
This initiative has come about mostly because of ongoing and active on-the-
ground conservation interest of the KOPEL-MESCOT community conservation
and ecotourism program. This KOPEL-MESCOT program has for a number of
years been studying in detail the forests around the Tungog Lake (Batu Puteh,
Lower Kinabatangan) since its inception in 1997, because of the traditional
cultural and economic significance of the lake to the local indigenous population
and the pristine nature of this location and potential for small scale low-impact
wildlife studies and ecotourism activities.
The major floods of early 2000 had a major impact on the lake, by introducing
an exotic weed to the Kinabatangan called Salvinia molesta. Within two years
this exotic noxious floating fern had totally engulfed the surface of the Tungog
Lake, which stretches for some 1.5km in length. The devastation immediately
noted were the disappearance of the rare diving water-bird the Oriental Darter
(Anhinga melanogaster) and the three native Otter species.
The Tungog Lake is of special significance in the Lower Kinabatangan because
it is only one of three deep clear-water oxbow lakes within the floodplain, being
totally disconnected from the main Kinabatangan River Channel, and is a
natural sanctuary for more than 150 native freshwater fish species, and a host
of other rare aquatic dependant birds and wildlife. From all accounts, research
and literature, the Tungog Lake was doomed to suffocate under the ferocity of
the Salvinia blanketing, decaying and filling up the lake, starving the clear tannin
soaked waters of oxygen.
The removal of Salvinia on the Tungog Lake is considered one of the most
critical conservation imperatives of the Kinabatangan Floodplain today and the
KOPEL-MESCOT intervention is the answer to a silent but deep and insistent
“calling” from the heart of the floodplain.
Work on the Salvinia removal was ignored by the worlds conservation giants,
and it has taken a small but sincere group of passionate individuals from KOPEL-
MESCOT, to soak in the leach and crocodile infested waters, braving the
blistering sores of constant waterlogged skins, to remove now more than 80% of
the Salvinia from the lake’s surface.
Further detailed insight into the Salvinia removal process can be viewed by
downloading the first evaluation report called “The MESCOT Salvinia Story” from
the link on this web-page. Further information can be sought by contacting
KOPEL or MESCOT on the links provided on this page.
The latest of the MESCOT Initiatives, this lake restoration work began in earnest
in September 2005 after more than 2 years of research and sourcing funding
support. This project is proudly funded by the Alexander Abraham Foundation
through the bridging work of LEAP (Land Empowerment Animals & People).
This initiative has come about mostly because of ongoing and active on-the-
ground conservation interest of the KOPEL-MESCOT community conservation
and ecotourism program. This KOPEL-MESCOT program has for a number of
years been studying in detail the forests around the Tungog Lake (Batu Puteh,
Lower Kinabatangan) since its inception in 1997, because of the traditional
cultural and economic significance of the lake to the local indigenous population
and the pristine nature of this location and potential for small scale low-impact
wildlife studies and ecotourism activities.
The major floods of early 2000 had a major impact on the lake, by introducing
an exotic weed to the Kinabatangan called Salvinia molesta. Within two years
this exotic noxious floating fern had totally engulfed the surface of the Tungog
Lake, which stretches for some 1.5km in length. The devastation immediately
noted were the disappearance of the rare diving water-bird the Oriental Darter
(Anhinga melanogaster) and the three native Otter species.
The Tungog Lake is of special significance in the Lower Kinabatangan because
it is only one of three deep clear-water oxbow lakes within the floodplain, being
totally disconnected from the main Kinabatangan River Channel, and is a
natural sanctuary for more than 150 native freshwater fish species, and a host
of other rare aquatic dependant birds and wildlife. From all accounts, research
and literature, the Tungog Lake was doomed to suffocate under the ferocity of
the Salvinia blanketing, decaying and filling up the lake, starving the clear tannin
soaked waters of oxygen.
The removal of Salvinia on the Tungog Lake is considered one of the most
critical conservation imperatives of the Kinabatangan Floodplain today and the
KOPEL-MESCOT intervention is the answer to a silent but deep and insistent
“calling” from the heart of the floodplain.
Work on the Salvinia removal was ignored by the worlds conservation giants,
and it has taken a small but sincere group of passionate individuals from KOPEL-
MESCOT, to soak in the leach and crocodile infested waters, braving the
blistering sores of constant waterlogged skins, to remove now more than 80% of
the Salvinia from the lake’s surface.
Further detailed insight into the Salvinia removal process can be viewed by
downloading the first evaluation report called “The MESCOT Salvinia Story” from
the link on this web-page. Further information can be sought by contacting
KOPEL or MESCOT on the links provided on this page.
| Before: |
| After: |
| FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT tinjau@tm.net.my |
| Tungog Lake 2005 |
| Tungog Lake 2006 |
Links:
| Student - Volunteer Programs: Basic Information |
